10" .357 magnum?

[Bearcat 74]

I am snooping for a new Contender barrel and I am back and forth between a .357 and a .44.  I know what I would load in the .44, but not so much on the .357.  I like heavier bullets, can you load the 180gr Hornady SSP bullet in the .357 Magnum?  What are some loads you guys are using in the 10" .357 Magnum?  I load the 158 XTP-FP in my 686.


Thanks

[Bearcat 74]

Just picked up an 8" .44 magnum.

[Graybeard]

That's gonna be NASTY with max loads. Back in the early days of the Contender with those original wood grips they first offered an iron sighted 10" bull I had usually brought blood from me at every shooting session. That had to be about the worst kicking most painful handgun I've shot.

With Pachmayr grips and fore end and especially if scoped your 8" won't be as bad but shoot it with max loads, iron sights and wrong grips and I hope you have some band aids handy.

[Bearcat 74]

Yeah, that seems to be a reoccuring theme, nasty. LOL  I figure it will be a real wrist ripper, but I am not going to shoot max level loads.  It has rubber grips so that should help some and I am going to see how my mid level revolver loads group and go from there.  I am shooting 240gr XTP's over 19gr of 2400 and 300gr Sierra SP's over 17.5gr of 2400.


I'll let you know how it does if the dang rain ever leaves. 

[Bearcat 74]

Well the rain quite and I went and burned 35 rounds from the 8" .44 mag.  Recoil was brisk, but not bad.  Real quick and sharp, took one to the left index finger with the trigger guard, not real fun.  19grs of 2400 and the 240 XTP proved to shoot better than I can at 50yds.  25yd groups were 1"-1.5" with my forearms rested on a deck railing, so that isn't bad.  At 50yds I shot several groups and they went from good 2"-3" to around half of a paper plate, but that is me I am sure.  I am not crazy about the black on black sights, so some paint is in order.


This thing fouls and coppers like a crazy beast, any ideas or tips on that?

Also, the 240 XTP load has to have the rear sight turned all the way down so I am afraid the 300gr load will be out until I can get a taller front sight.

[Tommyt]

I've been told when Lead fouling too much to
Slow the bullet down

Tommyt

[Lone Star]

Lead fouling and jacket fouling are two different things.  Lead fouling is caused by gas blow-by when the bullet does not seal the bore.  Jacket fouling is often caused by a rough bore - this will often get better the more the barrel is shot, as long as the fouling is removed regularly so the steel can smooth out a bit.  You can get some JB Compound and use a tight patch to polish the bore, this sometimes helps.  Or you can firelap the bore.   But likely it will not be too bad once the barrel breaks in somewhat.  Use a good copper solvent regularly.



.

[Bearcat 74]

I have not shot any cast and probably won't, it's all copper.  I cleaned the whizz out of the barrel and then JB'd it real good and it seems to not be as bad.  I will probably strip it back down and JB it again.  Going into the Hornady book and going into the TC loads 21grs of 2400 and 22grs of 2400 with the 240XTP both shoot real good.  I am going to load up 20 of each and see what I get.  One thing I noticed is it is a real wrist rocket with those charges.  LOL!  Nothing that is unbearable, but it is certainly an attention getter.  I had to change my grip some because my left index finger looks like it has been attacked by a hammer. 


I am thinking about going to a Red Dot scope because I can't find a front fiber optic site I like.  I think the dot would be pretty quick on target also.  How are the Ultra Dot sights?


Thanks again!